When looking down the multiple aisles of paint at the hardware and home improvement stores, it can get overwhelming fast. There are so many different types of paint that you wonder how anyone could ever know which is the right one to choose. There is one initial decision that seems pretty easy, but even then, many people don’t know why there is a difference between interior and exterior paint. Seems simple enough… interior paint for your home’s interior, and exterior paint for the outside of your home.

Let’s take a closer look to see what exactly makes these two types of paint different…

All paint is made up of solvent, resin, additives, and pigments. You can read more about that in our article on What Paint Is Made Of. Both interior and exterior paints are pretty similar when it comes to solvents and pigments. There are minor differences with pigment types and amounts, but the biggest difference between interior and exterior paintcan be found in the additives and the resin.

Flexible Resins

Because exterior paint is exposed to many types of weather conditions, it needs to be able to stand up to whatever nature throws at it. Extreme temperatures, direct UV rays, high winds and salty sea breezes can cause painted surfaces to expand and contract. Exterior paint contains flexible resins to help combat cracking and flaking. It also contains additives to help prevent staining, fading, and even mildew.

Conversely, interior paint is not exposed to extreme climate and weather changes, so it is made with more rigid resins which help make it less prone to scuffing and also much easier to clean.

Volatile Organic Compounds and Off-Gassing

So why not use exterior paint indoors if it can handle so much abuse? Interestingly enough, exterior paint’s flexible resins cause it to be more prone to scuffs and scratches. It also releases more volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as it cures and continues to release them after it is done curing, making it much more of a health threat. Exterior paints often contain mildewcides and fungicides that can give off odors and affect allergies.

So, as you can see, there are both functional and medical reasons to use the correct paint for the job. Interior paint will help you have the right color inside your home that won’t scuff and can be cleaned, while exterior paint will help you have a home color that won’t fade, crack, chip, stain or mildew through extreme weather changes. Keeping exterior paint outside will not only help you have a beautiful home on the outside, but you’ll also have a safer home on the inside.

]]>http://ultrafinishpainting.com/painting-101-interior-vs-exterior/feed/0Painting 101: What Is Paint Made Of?http://ultrafinishpainting.com/painting-101-what-is-paint-made-of/
http://ultrafinishpainting.com/painting-101-what-is-paint-made-of/#commentsFri, 21 Sep 2018 18:05:06 +0000http://ultrafinishpainting.com/?p=665Most people have come into contact with paint at some point in their life. Many of us have painted our homes (inside and out) and some have even painted as a form of artistic expression. It is probably a safe assumption that although we know what paint is, and how to use it, most people do not even know what paint is made of. Sure, we know it’s a combination of chemicals (based on the fumes) and that at some point lead may have been used but that’s where our knowledge of paint ends.

In order to understand paint quality, choice, and application, it’s first important to understand what paint is made of…

Paint is made up of 3-4 main ingredients:

Pigment

Pigment is what gives paint its color and texture. Dangerous pigments such as lead and asbestos used to be common, but now are mostly outlawed. Pigments are ground up and applied to the resin/binder. Cheaper pigment materials (such as clay) cannot be ground as finely as the better pigments can, and you can actually tell whether paint is good or not by rubbing it between the tips of your thumb and index finger. If it feels gritty, it probably contains either a cheap pigment or lot of cheap filler. This kind of paint will not normally last as long as other high-end paints.

Binder

Binder (or Resin) is what holds everything together (hence the name). The binder determines many of the necessary film properties such as adhesion, gloss level, hardness, abrasion resistance, flexibility, speed of drying and durability.

Solvent

A solvent is the liquid that carries the solid components of paint. It is what allows the paint to be “wet” and adhere to the surface being painted.
The solvent type effects the flow of the paint after it has been applied as well as how the paint dries. Once paint has been applied, the solvent evaporates and leaves a dry film on the surface.

Additives

As the name suggests, Additives are components added to the paint to improve different properties to the wet mix or the dry film. Types of additives include Wetting Agents, Anti-Settling Agents, Anti-Skinning Agents, Drying/Curing Agents, Stabilizers, Anti-Marring Agents, and Anti-Mold Agents. If a paint claims to have special features such as “Quick Drying”, “Mold Resistant”, or “Scuff Resistant” it is usually a result of the additives put into the paint.

There you have the basic components of paint. These 4 main ingredient types can be specialized and tailored to create different paints for all sorts of uses such as interior, exteriors, auto, marine, industrial, agricultural, etc.

So the next time you walk into a home improvement store and wander down the paint aisles, take a look at all the types of paints available and remember that they are all made up of 4 main ingredients: Pigment, Binder, Solvent & Additives.

]]>http://ultrafinishpainting.com/painting-101-what-is-paint-made-of/feed/15 Ways To Prepare The Exterior Of Your South Florida Home For Hurricanes & Strong Stormshttp://ultrafinishpainting.com/5-ways-to-prepare-the-exterior-of-your-south-florida-home-for-hurricanes-strong-storms/
http://ultrafinishpainting.com/5-ways-to-prepare-the-exterior-of-your-south-florida-home-for-hurricanes-strong-storms/#respondMon, 30 Jul 2018 15:53:53 +0000http://ultrafinishpainting.com/?p=583As we near the end of July in South Florida, many homeowners begin to think about the possibility of a tropical storm or hurricane and how to be prepared. Usually, storm prep includes creating a box of supplies, storing up water and batteries, and making sure trees and shrubs are trimmed back to avoid dangerous debris. But did you know that there are preparations to the exterior of your home that have a huge impact on how it handles strong wind and rain?

Here are 5 ways to prepare the exterior of your home for hurricane season that most homeowners neglect:

1. Make sure all exterior wood surfaces such as entry doors, garage doors, arbors, shutters, etc. are well sealed.

We get a lot of rain in South Florida, and most homes are prepared to handle a normal rainy season. However, without properly sealed surfaces the combination of hard rain and heavy wind can force water into your wood surfaces.

2. Re-Caulking of joints to windows and doors.

Over time, the caulking around your windows and doors can become cracked, dry and even torn. This is usually where water gets in during a storm. A routine inspection of these joints will help you know how well your home can protect you from driving rain.

3. Sealing and painting of all aged stucco finishes to protect against water penetration.

Stucco surfaces can lose their water-tightness over time, especially if cracks or nicks develop. Water that gets into and behind your stucco can cause problems that will go unnoticed for quite a while.

4. Re-seal “wear areas” where shrubs and trees have rubbed against exterior trim.

Trees and shrubs look great next to your home, but they can also cause damage to the finish of your surfaces. Trimming them back helps protect your home from debris and breakage, but you need to also check to see if they have worn away your finish and re-seal if they have.

5. Maintaining Shutters

Shutters, whether functional or decorative look great on the exterior of your home. Left unmaintained, they can be a source of water damage for your home’s surfaces.

Preparing your home in these ways will ensure you can weather the driving wind and rain that tropical storms, hurricanes and even strong thunderstorms can bring here in South Florida. The best way to do this is to hire a professional who warranties their work so you don’t have to get up on a ladder and risk an accident. Call Ultra Finish Painting today at 561-744-5448 to schedule your hurricane preparation.